New Home Source Blog

Featured New Home City: Washington, D.C.

2009-11-25T00:00:00-06:00

Image Courtesy of suemax

Our nation’s capital city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland. The District has a resident population of 591,833 that increases during the work week to over one million as commuters arrive from the surrounding suburbs. The Washington Metropolitan Area is the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the country.

New homes in the greater Washington D.C. metro area are plentiful, with 296 new-home communities and over 1620 available homes. Whether the community you choose is in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, or D.C. proper, you can choose from new builder homes in a wide range of prices.

Some of the fastest-selling and most affordable homes in the area are at Potomac Club, which offers innovative and functional floorplans from $224,990 in a community that's designed for the busy professional. The all-inclusive community is located in Woodbridge, VA, adjacent to the Potomac Town Center.

In Frederick, MD, Linton at Ballenger offers hot deals on architecturally stunning 4-bedroom new homes in a planned community by Drees Homes. Easy access to I-270 and a surplus of amenities and local conveniences makes buying a new home in the Washington D.C. area very appealing.

Search all of the Washington metro area for a list of homes for sale that meet your family's needs.

Ways That Builders Are Going Green

2009-11-24T00:00:00-06:00

Image Courtesy of Flavio Takemoto

Far from being a fad at this point, green building practices are here to stay and are now being incorporated into codes and regulations. The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) estimates that half of its members are utilizing green building practices in their businesses. New home builders can become certified through the NAHB's National Green Building Program.

Water conservation, greater energy efficiency, use of sustainable or recycled materials and products, and improved indoor air quality are becoming more and more standard for new home building due to the increasing demand from consumers for green homes.

From selecting and preparing the new home site to the finishes used in the home, home builders are using cutting-edge products and environmentally conscious building practices in order to save their customers money on utility bills and to reduce the impact on the environment. New products and building processes can create airtight homes that use much less energy while simultaneously improving the air quality for the home’s occupants.

The various ways builders are going green are being driven by the wishes of consumers. This trend will continue to grow as more homeowners and home builders realize that saving money and saving the Earth go hand in hand.

Featured New Home City: Seattle, Washington

2009-11-23T11:23:59-06:00

Named one of Forbes' 10 safest cities to live in, Seattle is located between an inlet of the Pacific Ocean called Puget Sound (to the west) and Lake Washington (to the east). While rain might come to mind when you think of Seattle, it actually didn't make a recent list of the 10 rainiest cities.

Seattle also has been called "a city of neighborhoods," as it has grown and expanded by annexing small neighboring communities. Home to over 600,000 residents, Seattle is the most educated city in the U.S. and is widely known as the birthplace of "grunge" music (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc.). Residents are also known to consume quite a bit of coffee.

All those coffee-drinkers have to live somewhere. The Seattle-Bellevue area offers 20 new-home communities with around 180 homes for sale. The popular Sylvan Ridge, which is just 10 minutes to downtown Seattle, has affordable 2-bedroom, 3-story townhomes from only $289,950.

If you prefer a single-family new home, check out the Creekside new-home community, located just south of Seattle in Kent, WA. Choose from 3- and 4-bedroom homes with bonus rooms, dens, and 3-car garages. The advantage of Creekside is that the homeowner experiences the traditional community feel while still being in close proximity to the downtown area and the airport.

Condos, Townhomes, or Houses: Which is Right for You?

2009-11-20T00:00:00-06:00

Good question. When you're looking to buy a new home, one of the very first and most important decisions you have to make is whether to buy a condo, townhome, or single-family home. This decision will usually depend on both your budget and your lifestyle.

Single-family homes are considered a better investment, as home values are usually higher than those of condos or townhomes and because they tend to be easier to sell. Since you own the land and the structure, however, you're responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of every part of your new house. Consider whether you have the time, money, and desire to deal with the responsibilities this type of home requires.

With a new condo, you typically get more house for the money, but you only own the interior of your unit. You also share walls with your neighbors, perhaps on all sides (including above and below). On the other hand, because of the monthly association fees that are required with a condo, you don't have to worry about the exterior.

Townhomes are the middle-ground of homes and condos. While you might share walls with your neighbor, your own entrance from the street and usually a small area of yard give you the feeling of having a house. The required monthly association fees will cover some of the maintenance costs, but you're limited in what you may change on the exterior. A townhome is an excellent choice if you want to have the feeling of owning a home, but with a lower purchase price and less maintenance responsibility.

Luxury Home Spotlight: Fort Myers, FL

2009-11-19T09:00:00-06:00

If you're looking for luxury in Fort Myers, check out the waterfront. The new-home communities in this southwest coastal city offer unsurpassed views and the ultimate in luxurious living.

High Point Place is a high-rise new home condominium community on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers. The community is within walking distance of the newly revitalized River District and offers 17 new condos and 18 city homes.

The Vistas at Belle Lago, Toll Brothers' newest exclusive neighborhood of luxury 2 to 4 bedroom single-family estate and villa homes, features 54 beautiful home sites. The surrounding nature preserves make for gorgeous panoramic views.

In Estero, near Fort Myers Beach, Bella Terra features beautiful northern Italian-style architecture located in a preserve paradise. It is a master-planned community, offering single-family homes and twin villas in a resort-style atmosphere. They're built with Lennar's signature, "Everything You Want, Everything You Need." The most-desired high quality features and upgrades are included.

Your luxury new home search in Fort Myers begins at NewHomeSource.com.

Checklist of Features to Request in Your New Home

2009-11-18T00:00:00-06:00

An important part of buying a new home is making sure your home builder includes features that will make your life easier. As with most home infrastructure, it's much less expensive to install these features during construction than to add them later. There are hidden features that you might not have thought of but can transform a house into an automated "Smart Home."

Communications: Given the amount of technology most homeowners use on a daily basis, it's critical that all rooms be wired for Internet access, phone, cable, satellite TV, and entertainment systems. You don’t really know how you might use certain rooms down the road, so it's better to be prepared and have the technology available everywhere in the house. Perhaps the next owner has advanced needs and having this capability will be a selling point. And don’t forget the outdoor spaces like porches, patios, and workshops where a lot of your time will be spent.
Safety and Security: Security measures like smoke detectors, sensors, alarms, and even cameras are vitally important and can be centrally wired or set up to work wirelessly.
Lighting: The lighting inside your new home and on the exterior can be automated to make your life easier and to make your home a safer place. Lights can be set to turn on at specified times and you can be alerted if lights were left on or came on at unexpected times.
Comfort and Efficiency: In addition to saving on energy costs, automation of the heating and cooling systems in your new home will make your home more comfortable. A programmable system can regulate your indoor environment based on your schedule and habits. Save on energy costs by also scheduling the operation of systems like sprinklers and pool pumps.

Discuss these features with your builder before breaking ground. They'll add so much to your home, not just in efficiency, but in safety and comfort as well, and in many cases will pay for themselves.

Featured New Home City: Sacramento, CA

2009-11-17T00:00:00-06:00

Sacramento, the bustling capitol of California, boasts previous mentions as one of the country's most livable cities and as Time Magazine's "most integrated" city in 2002. With over 400,000 residents, it's the cultural and economic core of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area.

The city of Sacramento is best known for its gold-rush history and has evolved considerably in recent years. It features two large universities; the UC Davis Medical Center; a thriving riverfront area with harbor; several notable museums, top restaurants, and nightlife spots; a number of theaters; more than 100 parks; and scenic trails by the American River Parkway.

Finding a new home in Sacramento is easy, particularly a new green home. Sacramento boasts many home builders that are partners with Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

One such builder, Lennar, features several homes in Cazadero II at Kavala Ranch. These homes are built using Lennar's solar program, which combines solar electric systems with today's most innovative and energy efficient building practices and products.

The Cazadero new-home community offers five unique floorplans, ranging from 1,463 to 2,779 square feet with 3 to 4 bedrooms and up to 3 baths. It's a short drive into downtown Sacramento, and South Lake Tahoe and San Francisco are both only a two-hour drive away.

What Is in Your Mortgage Payment?

2009-11-16T12:19:46-06:00

As you're searching for your ideal new home, it's important to understand a little more about how you'll finance your dream home. One area of confusion for many is the monthly mortgage payment.

Your monthly mortgage payment consists of more than just the loan amount plus interest. Taxes and insurance are other expenses that may be factored into the payment.

Most lenders require you to pay a calculated amount each month into an escrow account, out of which the lender will pay the property taxes and various insurance premiums, such as homeowner’s, flood, and windstorm, when due. This is helpful in terms of budgeting for these items because your lender is saving this money for your benefit and will pay those bills.

Another amount that may be added to your mortgage payment each month is private mortgage insurance (PMI). If you put down less than 20% of the purchase price of the home when it's purchased, the lender may require this insurance, which will cover the lender in the event of foreclosure. PMI is typically 1% of the loan amount and can usually be canceled and removed from the loan once your home value increases and you have at least 20% equity.

It's very important to consider these additional expenses when deciding how much to spend on your new home. Depending on where your new home is located, these additional amounts can represent a significant portion of your entire mortgage payment.

Featured New Home City: Charlotte, North Carolina

2009-11-12T00:00:00-06:00

It's been said that, once you visit Charlotte, you'll want to live there. If you do, getting a lot of new home for your money is a cinch. Charlotte workers make slightly more than the national average, and home prices average just under $100 per square foot.

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and a three-hour drive from the Eastern shore, this largest city in North Carolina is one of the best places to live in America, according to CNN Money and Relocate-America.com, and is one of the most undervalued real estate markets in the U.S., according to Forbes. Charlotte is also a great pick in terms of recreation and appeal.

There are 198 new-home communities with around 2,000 available homes in a community of 631,000 people. With those numbers, you're sure to find a brand new home that meets your needs and expectations, like this large home in the Mooresville/Lake Norman area. You can get a hot deal on this Byers Creek home with the most sought-after floorplan for just $79 per square foot. The community also offers a pool, cabana, and playground, plus an on-site grocery store and local dining options.

Start your new home search in the Charlotte area on NewHomeSource.com, where you can find a list of homes for sale, builder information, and what you need to know about buying a new home in the New Home Guide.

How to Find the Right Builder for You

2009-11-11T13:05:18-06:00

You've made the decision to buy a new home. The next and most important step in the process is choosing the right home builder for your project. Whether you're choosing a newly constructed home, building on your own lot, or having your home custom-built, the builder is a partner who should be easy to work with and share your goals.

The best way to start is by perusing the new home listings in the area where you wish to build or buy your new home. When you find homes for sale that appeal to you, get in touch with the builder of those properties to begin your interview process.

In order to determine if your potential builder will be a good match for you, request that the builder provide addresses for current projects, as well as those for homes completed several years ago. You'll want to visit these addresses to see how the job sites and completed projects look. If possible, try to speak with the owners of finished homes to find out how pleased they were with the builder’s work, how well the work has held up over time, and how the builder dealt with any home-warranty issues.

As you'll be dealing with your builder for a considerable length of time, it's critical that you find someone you can get along with. When the inevitable issues arise, you will want someone who will work with you to find the proper resolution and make the process of building a new home as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.